Forbes Names Benesch Litigation Managing Chair Erik Connolly to 2026 America’s Top Lawyers List

Benesch is pleased to announce that Erik Connolly, partner and managing chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, has been named to the 2026 Forbes America’s Top Lawyers list. This prestigious recognition honors attorneys who demonstrate exceptional client service, leadership in their fields and significant achievements across a wide range of practice areas.

Erik is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with a career marked by landmark victories in high-stakes commercial, securities and defamation disputes. He has successfully represented clients in matters valued in the billions of dollars, including the $6 billion “pink slime” litigation against ABC and Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation case. His work has earned national attention from leading media outlets, including The New York Times and Bloomberg.

Erik serves as trusted counsel to Fortune 100 companies, global technology firms, financial institutions and privately held businesses facing their most significant legal challenges. His combination of courtroom excellence, strategic business judgment and client-focused service has made him one of the legal profession’s most respected litigators and a recognized leader within the industry.

Now in its third year, Forbes’ annual America’s Top Lawyers list recognizes the nation’s leading dealmakers, litigators, advisers and strategists who stand apart in an increasingly competitive legal landscape. The list is based on a rigorous, multi-stage process of editorial research and analysis designed to identify attorneys with distinguished track records, strong reputations among peers and clients, and a demonstrated impact on the profession. The resulting collection of honorees represents attorneys delivering exceptional legal representation across a broad array of practice areas, united by their integrity, records of excellence and standing as leaders in the legal profession.

View the full 2026 Forbes America’s Top Lawyers list here.